Scottish Premier League: Glasgow Celtic 6 - Dundee 2Celtic went back to the top of the Premier League last night in their game of musical chairs with Rangers. They are now three points clear, having played a game more than their Old Firm rivals, but now have a significant lead in the goal-difference stakes.
Celtic were lifted before kick-off with the appearance of Alan Thompson in the line-up after recovering from a hamstring injury while number one goalkeeper Robert Douglas showed he was not far away from fitness with a place on the bench.
Dundee showed fleeting resistance to the tide of Celtic attacks when Barry Smith managed to briefly silence the majority of the crowd when he equalised Henrik Larsson's early opener.
The Swede had benefited from some fine play by Thompson who played a prominent role in the first half. Larsson beat the offside trap to run on to Thompson's through ball and took it round Julian Speroni before firing a left-foot shot into the roof of the net.
After the unmarked Smith's deflected shot brought Dundee back into the game, Celtic responded immediately.
Larsson directed Stilian Petrov's cross into the path of Thompson, who stooped to head past Speroni. Three minutes later and the Englishman stuck again, swivelling to fire home from Didier Agathe's cross.
The rout continued after the interval when Shaun Maloney capitalised on a mistake by Wilkie in the 52nd minute, courtesy of another nightmare from Wilkie.
The Dundee defender was caught in possession from Javier Sanchez Broto's long punt downfield and Maloney coolly prodded the ball past the advancing Speroni.
He added a fifth in the 63rd minute with a finish Larsson would have been proud of.
Thompson seized on an error by Dave Mackay to play the youngster through and he curled home a right-foot shot.
Celtic were in full flight and Larsson missed two good chances, the second after another blunder by Wilkie, and Thompson's shot was blocked by the desperate Dundee defenders.
The hapless Wilkie was eventually taken off in the 69th minute when he was replaced by Beta Carranza before Novo shot wide of the Celtic goal when one- on-one with Broto.
But Celtic were still hungry for more goals and in the 76th minute Bobo Balde rose to head Agathe's cross into the path of Johan Mjallby who poked the ball into the empty net from close range.
Lee Mair gained late consolation when he headed home in the last minute.
With the UEFA Cup final just a week away, Martin O'Neill's men will go to Seville on top of the world after producing one of their best performances of an epic campaign.
Rangers have two games left in the league - away to Hearts on Sunday, before signing off with a home fixture against Dunfermline on Sunday week. Celtic's final game will be away to Dunfermline the same day.
Guardian Service
CELTIC: Broto, Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren, Agathe, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Larsson, Maloney (Smith 82). Subs Not Used: Douglas, McNamara, Fernandez, Crainey. Booked: Thompson. Goals: Larsson 14, Thompson 27, 30, Maloney 52, 63, Mjallby 77.
DUNDEE: Speroni, Smith, Wilkie (Brady 69), Khizanishvili (Forbes 55), Hernandez Santos, Mackay, Rae, Mair, Novo, Milne, Burchill (Carranza 72). Subs Not Used: Langfield, Nemsadze. Goals: Smith 26, Mair 90.
Referee: T Brown (Scotland).
